McLaren-Honda MP4/4

The MP4/4’s1988 tally of 15 wins from 16 Grands Prix is one of the most remarkable achievements in the sport. Team McLaren’s MP4/4s also took 10 second places, 15 pole positions, 10 fastest laps, and both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.

Turbocharged

The car’s turbocharged Honda RA168E V6 engine was its crucial advantage. In the final year that turbocharged engines were permitted in F1, the Honda was limited to 150 litres of fuel and a maximum boost of 2.5 bar pressure. But it could deliver up to 900bhp, and was easy to work with and reliable. In conjunction with a balanced chassis and well-considered aerodynamics, the MP4/4 could be adjusted to meet the particular demands of every circuit.

Prost and Senna

There were two other reasons for the car’s success – drivers Alain
Prost and Ayrton Senna (who triumphed in the Drivers’ Championship). In the MP4/4, they were virtually unbeatable over the 1988 season.